The Mac isn’t the only OS getting a Skype update today; apparently Microsoft has started to integrate Skype into its Outlook desktop email client.
The Skype version 6.1 update for Windows now includes the ability to call any mobile or landline within Outlook. You can call anyone as long as you have their contact information in Outlook, but you don’t need to be friends on Skype. In addition, Microsoft has also built-in online status and contact information into Outlook contact cards and the ability to initiate instant messages directly from Outlook. When you want to contact anyone in your Outlook contact list who is already on Skype, you can instant message, audio or video call them as well. This is the type of integration we’re happy to see from Microsoft as they sunset their Windows Live Messenger service.
Alongside the Outlook email client integration — like the Mac update — the Skype interface has been updated to make adding contacts easier with the ability to search for Skype users from the contacts list.